The Agent

white dove carries a gift for the feast , wild nature

When Abraham was old, he commanded his servant to go as an agent to his homeland to get a wife for his only son Isaac. The servant took ten camels and gifts of gold to Nahor where Abraham’s relatives lived. At the springs he prayed that the woman who gave him a drink would volunteer to water his camels, and she did. Rebekah was beautiful and willing to go back with the servant (agent) to marry Isaac (Genesis 24). The servant’s name was Eliezer, which means “God is the helper.”

Before Abraham began to think about a wife for Isaac, God asked him to do something unthinkable. He asked him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Although heartbroken, Abraham obeyed. He traveled to Moriah, built an altar and took his son to slay him. God said, ” Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” (Genesis 22:12). God provided a lamb caught in the thicket for the sacrifice.

God did not spare His only Son, but gave Him to be a sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus promised His followers a helper, the Holy Spirit, symbolized by a dove. His bride is the church made up of believers, and He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us live our lives pleasing to Him.

THINK ABOUT IT

Since God gave all He had, His only Son, for His bride, the response of the bride is to devote her life to loving Him and others. That’s challenging in today’s world. It was just as challenging in the world Jesus left to be with the Father. But we have a helper, the Spirit of the living God, who counsels us, comforts and encourages us when we reach out to show love and compassion as He shows love and compassion.

PRAY ABOUT IT

Thank you, Father, for giving us Jesus our Lord. Raise up your people in the church to reach a sick and dying world so those who come to believe in you will not perish but have eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Where the Girls Were

11058119 – draw well traditional mediterranean masonry in balearic islands

Where did you meet the love of your life? A party? A bar? Sports event? Church? I met Dennis at a birthday party. In ancient times guys found girls at the well. Moses found his wife at a well in Midian. Gabriel found Mary at a well in Nazareth to tell her she was favored among women and that she would give birth to Jesus. Abraham didn’t want his son Isaac to marry a Canaanite woman so he sent his servant back to his homeland.

Girls went every day to draw water for their families and animals. This was no small task because the wells were deep; some so deep that a 200 ft. spiral staircase led down to the water. When Abraham’s servant arrived at his destination, he prayed for God to show him the woman for Isaac. “May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too, let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.’ Before he finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was very beautiful.

The servant asked her, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” She gave him a drink and watered all ten camels. The servant told Rebekah and her brother Laban and her father Bethuel the purpose of his trip. They agreed that she would go back to be the wife of Isaac. Rebekah went willingly. After the long trip, Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She got off the camel and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “He is my master,” the servant said (Genesis 24).

The English translation leaves some of the meaning out. In the original Greek, Rebekah didn’t just get off the camel. She fell off. This adds such depth to the story. She was smitten before Isaac ever said a word. This was a marriage made in heaven, really!

THINK ABOUT IT

Rebekah gave birth to twins, Jacob and Esau. Jacob enjoyed cooking and Esau hunted game. Jacob received the father’s blessing, which caused Esau to want to kill him. Rebekah sent Jacob back to her brother Laban to find a wife. He followed the example of Abraham’s servant and found his gorgeous wife Rachel at the same well where the servant found Rebekah. Jacob worked for Laban fourteen years to have her, and he also got her sister Leah.

Young women in Bible times found going to the well to be a social event. The girls had fun doing this very mundane task that they had to do every day. I wonder if they ever thought they would find the man of their dreams at the well. It seems to have been quite common.

Things are so different today. Water comes easily and parents are not as involved in the match making of their children. However, God is. He knows what the desires of our hearts are and is willing to give them to us as long as He is the desire of our hearts.

PRAY ABOUT IT

Father God, I pray that as couples come together that they trust you for the right person to spend their lives with. Help them to see the person you intend for them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.